Education Minister Daryll Matthew has challenged students across Antigua and Barbuda to work hard, remain curious and make the most of expanded access to education as the 2026/2027 academic year gets underway.

In a message marking the opening of the new school year, Matthew welcomed students back to the classroom while also acknowledging the financial pressure many parents face in preparing their children for school.

He pointed to several government-funded education measures which he said are intended to ensure a family’s financial circumstances do not determine how far a student can go academically.

Students sitting CSEC and CAPE examinations this academic year will have their examination fees paid by the government, while tuition is also covered for eligible students pursuing studies at the University of the West Indies.

New Antiguan and Barbudan students entering the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies can also attend tuition-free, while tuition has been waived for those pursuing trades, technical certifications and skills training at the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education.

Matthew said the changes are designed to shift the deciding factor in a student’s education away from what their family can afford.

“It means that in Antigua and Barbuda, in 2026, the question of whether a child is educated to the very limit of their ability is no longer a question about that family’s bank balance,” he said. “It is a question about that child’s effort and that child’s will.”

The minister described the investment in education as a national strategy rather than simply an act of government generosity, arguing that Antigua and Barbuda cannot afford to allow capable young people to miss opportunities because of financial barriers.

He also used the start of the school year to acknowledge teachers and school administrators, admitting that expanded access can bring additional pressure on educators and schools.

Matthew pledged that the Ministry of Education would continue working to provide educators with improved tools, training and working conditions.

“I do not take that for granted, and I will not pretend the resources have ever been as plentiful as your effort has been,” he told educators. “You have my respect, you have my thanks, and you have my commitment that this Ministry will keep working to give you the tools, the training and the conditions your profession deserves.”

Parents and guardians were also urged to remain actively involved in their children’s education, with Matthew stressing that government policies and funding alone cannot guarantee student success.

“Ask about the homework. Go to the meeting. Know the teacher. Praise the effort, not only the grade,” he urged. “Your attention is worth more than anything in our budget.”

But some of his strongest words were reserved for students, whom he encouraged not to allow self-doubt or the opinions of others to limit their ambitions.

“Work hard. Be curious past the point of the syllabus. Look after the classmate who is struggling,” Matthew said. “And aim higher than you think is reasonable, because reasonable is not what built this nation.”

He closed by wishing students, teachers, parents and other education workers a successful academic year, telling them: “Let us make this one count.”